The fighting ceased instantly; the cursing ceased; distinctly defined moment, dead hush, motionless calm, where the tempest ; then with one impulse the multitude awoke to life and energy again, and went surging and struggling and swaying, , its outer edges melting away through windows and doors and gradually lessening the pressure and relieving the mass

The fireboys were never on hand so suddenly before; for no distance , their quarters being rear end market house, an engine company and hook-and-ladder company Half of each was composed of rummies other half of anti-rummies, moral and political share-and-share-alike fashion frontier town period Enough anti-rummies were loafing in quarters to man the engine ladders In two minutes they had their red shirts and helmets on-- they never stirred officially in unofficial costume--and mass meeting overhead smashed long row of windows and poured out roof arcade, the deliverers were ready with powerful stream of water, which washed off the roof and nearly drowned the rest But water was preferable to fire, and still the stampede windows continued, and still the pitiless drenching assailed it until the building was empty; then the fireboys mounted hall and flooded it with water enough to annihilate forty times fire there; for village fire company often get chance to show off, and so when it does get chance, it makes the most of it Such citizens village as were of thoughtful and judicious temperament insure against fire; they insured against the fire company

CHAPTER 12

The Shame of Judge Driscoll

Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear--not absence of fear Except creature be part coward, compliment brave; merely loose misapplication word Consider the flea ! --incomparably the bravest of all the creatures of God, if ignorance of fear were courage Whether asleep or awake attack you, caring nothing fact that in bulk and strength to him as are the massed armies earth to sucking child; he lives both day and night and all days and nights very lap of peril immediate presence of death, and yet is no more afraid than man who walks the streets of city that was threatened by an earthquake ten centuries before When we speak of Clive, Nelson, and Putnam as men who "didn't know what fear was," we ought always to add the flea--and put him head procession

--Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar

Judge Driscoll was in bed and asleep by ten o'clock on Friday night, and up and gone a-fishing before daylight morning friend Pembroke Howard These two boys together in Virginia state still ranked chief and most imposing member Union, still coupled the proud and affectionate adjective "old" with her name spoke of her In Missouri recognized superiority attached to any person who hailed from Old Virginia; and this superiority was exalted to supremacy when person nativity could also prove descent First Families great commonwealth The Howards and Driscolls were aristocracy In their eyes, nobility It had its unwritten laws, were as clearly defined and as strict as any that found printed statues land The F F V was born gentleman; his highest duty in life was to watch over that great inheritance and keep it unsmirched keep his honor spotless Those laws were his chart; his course was marked out ; if he swerved by as half point compass, it meant shipwreck honor; , degradation rank as gentleman These laws required certain things of him which his religion might forbid: then his religion must yield--the laws relaxed to accommodate religions or anything else Honor stood first; laws defined what and wherein it differed in certain details from honor as defined by church creeds and social laws and customs of minor divisions globe that had got crowded out sacred boundaries of Virginia were staked out

If Judge Driscoll recognized first citizen of Dawson's Landing, Pembroke Howard was easily its recognized second citizen called "the great lawyer"--an earned title He and Driscoll were same age--a year or two past sixty

Although Driscoll was freethinker and Howard strong and determined Presbyterian, their warm intimacy suffered no impairment in consequence They were men whose opinions were their own property and not subject to revision and amendment, suggestion or criticism, by anybody, even their friends

The day's fishing finished, they came floating downstream in their skiff, talking national politics and other high matters, and presently met skiff coming up from town, with man who said:

"I reckon new twins gave your nephew kicking last night, Judge ? "

"Did WHAT ? "

"Gave him kicking "

The old judge's lips paled, eyes began to flame He choked with anger for moment, then he got out what trying :

"Well--well--go on ! the details ! "

The man did it finish the judge was silent minute, turning over mind the shameful picture of Tom's flight over the footlights; then , musing aloud,

"H'm--I don't understand it asleep at home He didn't wake me Thought competent to manage his affair without my help, I reckon " His face lit up with pride and pleasure thought, and with cheery complacency, "I like that--it's the true old blood-- hey, Pembroke ? "

Howard smiled an iron smile, and nodded his head approvingly Then the news-bringer spoke again

"But Tom beat the twin trial "

The judge looked man wonderingly, and said:

"The trial ? What trial ? "

"Why, Tom had him up before Judge Robinson for assault and battery "

The old man shrank suddenly together like one who has received death stroke Howard sprang for him as he sank forward in swoon, and took him arms, and bedded him back boat He sprinkled water face, and said startled visitor:

"Go, now--don't let him come to and find you here what an effect your heedless speech has had; you been more considerate than to blurt out such cruel piece of slander "

"I'm right down sorry it now, Mr Howard, and I wouldn't it if I had thought; but it ain't slander; it's perfectly true, just as him "

He rowed away Presently the old judge came out faint and looked up piteously sympathetic face that was bent over him

"Say it ain't true, Pembroke; tell me it ain't true ! " in weak voice

nothing weak deep organ tones that responded:

" it's lie as , old friend best blood Old Dominion "

"God bless you for saying it ! " said the old gentleman, fervently "Ah, Pembroke, such blow ! "

Howard stayed by his friend, and saw him home, and entered the house dark, and past supper-time, but the judge was not thinking of supper; eager to hear the slander refuted from headquarters, and as eager Howard hear it, too Tom was sent for, and immediately bruised and lame, and was not happy-looking object His uncle made him sit down, and said:

" hearing adventure, Tom, with handsome lie added for embellishment Now pulverize that lie to dust ! What measures taken ? How does the thing stand ? "

Tom answered guilelessly: "It don't stand at all; it's all over I had him up in court and beat him Pudd'nhead Wilson defended him-- first case he ever had, and lost it The judge fined the miserable hound five dollars assault "

Howard judge sprang feet opening sentence-- why, neither knew; then they stood gazing vacantly at Howard stood moment, then sat mournfully down without saying anything The judge's wrath began to kindle, and he burst out:

"You cur ! You scum ! You vermin ! me that blood race has suffered blow and crawled to court of law ? Answer me ! "

Tom's head drooped, and he answered with an eloquent silence His uncle stared at him with mixed expression of amazement and shame and incredulity that was sorrowful At last :

"Which twins ? "

"Count Luigi "

" challenged him ? "

"N--no," hesitated Tom, turning pale

" challenge him tonight Howard will carry it "

Tom began sick, and to show it He turned his hat round and round hand, his uncle glowering blacker and blacker upon him heavy seconds drifted by; then at last he began to stammer, and said piteously:

"Oh, please, don't ask me , uncle ! murderous devil-- I never could--I--I'm afraid of him ! "

Old Driscoll's mouth opened and closed three times before get it to perform its office; then he stormed out:

"A coward in my family ! Driscoll coward ! Oh, what have I done to deserve this infamy ! " He tottered secretary corner, repeated that lament again and again in heartbreaking tones, and got out of drawer paper, which he slowly tore to bits, scattering the bits absently track as he walked up and down the room, still grieving and lamenting At last :

"There , shreds and fragments once more--my will Once more forced me to disinherit you, you base son of most noble father ! Leave my sight ! Go--before I spit on you ! "

The young man tarry Then the judge turned to Howard:

" my second, old friend ? "

" "